Basic Effect Files with Directx and X-Files

We have Effect Files, but we can also link them directly with models—one popular modeling format in DirectX is the X-File format, which can specify which Effect Files should be used. X-Files store 3D models, including their geometry, textures, and animations, making it easier to import complex objects into a Direct3D scene.

Effect Files define how these models are rendered, controlling everything from shading techniques to lighting models. By associating an X-File with an Effect File, we can dictate how the model appears—whether it has realistic reflections, a stylized toon-shaded look, or advanced lighting effects. The X-File itself contains material and texture information, but without an Effect File, rendering is limited to basic fixed-function graphics. Applying an Effect File enables programmable shaders in HLSL, allowing finer control over appearance and rendering optimizations.

Hide effects in x-files. Image dipicts the scene when 'Red' is shown hiding in an egg (from "The Angry Birds Movie") - he was a surprise - as with the x-file format - it has more than just model data - it has a whole lot more inside.

The X-File holds the raw data of a 3D object, it doesn't dictate how the model is rendered or how lighting interacts with its surfaces. That’s where Effect Files step in. Effect Files contain shader programs written in HLSL (High-Level Shader Language) and define rendering techniques like lighting, reflections, and texture blending.

Look at a little example

Basic effect file (basic.fx)

<?php
// Basic effect file using a simple shader
technique BasicTech
{
    pass P0
    {
        VertexShader = compile vs_2_0 BasicVS();
        PixelShader = compile ps_2_0 BasicPS();
    }
}

float4 BasicVS(float4 pos : POSITION) : SV_POSITION
{
    return pos; // Simple passthrough vertex shader
}

float4 BasicPS(float4 color : COLOR) : SV_Target
{
    return color; // Basic coloring pixel shader
}

// Basic effect file using a simple shader
technique BasicTech
{
    pass P0
    {
        VertexShader = compile vs_2_0 BasicVS();
        PixelShader = compile ps_2_0 BasicPS();
    }
}

float4 BasicVS(float4 pos : POSITION) : SV_POSITION
{
    return pos; // Simple passthrough vertex shader
}

float4 BasicPS(float4 color : COLOR) : SV_Target
{
    return color; // Basic coloring pixel shader
}

Simple model (cube.x) - we specify the Effect File to be used through a mesh attribute, linking it directly to the model.

<?php
xof 0303txt 0032
Frame Cube
{
    // Transformation Matrix
    FrameTransformMatrix {
        1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
        0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0,
        0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0,
        0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0;
    }

    Mesh CubeMesh
    {
        8; // Vertices
        -1 -1 -1; 1 -1 -1; 1 1 -1; -1 1 -1;
        -1 -1 1; 1 -1 1; 1 1 1; -1 1 1;

        6; // Faces
        4; 0,1,2,3;
        4; 4,5,6,7;
        4; 0,1,5,4;
        4; 1,2,6,5;
        4; 2,3,7,6;
        4; 3,0,4,7;

        // Reference to Effect File
        EffectInstance {
            "basic.fx"; <---****NOTICE THIS*****
        }
    }
}

<?php
xof 0303txt 0032
Frame Cube
{
    // Transformation Matrix
    FrameTransformMatrix {
        1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
        0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0,
        0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0,
        0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0;
    }

    Mesh CubeMesh
    {
        8; // Vertices
        -1 -1 -1; 1 -1 -1; 1 1 -1; -1 1 -1;
        -1 -1 1; 1 -1 1; 1 1 1; -1 1 1;

        6; // Faces
        4; 0,1,2,3;
        4; 4,5,6,7;
        4; 0,1,5,4;
        4; 1,2,6,5;
        4; 2,3,7,6;
        4; 3,0,4,7;

        // Reference to Effect File
        EffectInstance {
            "basic.fx"; <---****NOTICE THIS*****
        }
    }
}

Just to note - can also use the 'frame' attribute to link to the effect file (not just the mesh attribute).

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